Precious Lilly Pages

A while back, I wrote about the day my sister and I took Lilly out for a photo shoot at the Wilson Barn and shared a few of the beautiful photos Wendie took.  I thought you might like to see the scrapbook layouts I did recently with them.  The first one below I love because it looks like she's got her eyes right on the birdie in the corner, who happens to be carrying a pretty accurate message!  I also tried something new with the embroidery along the top and bottom and the string for the note.   

And I think I may frame this one of her little feet.  I just love everything about it, the colors, the letters, the papers and the transparency at the bottom with the pretty pink flourishes.  I think it all ties in perfectly with the photo.  So pretty!   

Making a Girls Day

I received the most delightful surprise in the mail the other day - this sweet card from my friend Julie.  In her note, she tells me that she read my blog a few weeks back, so wanted to send me a handmade note.  Honestly, it brought tears to my eyes to receive such a thoughtful and unexpected treat all the way from Washington. 

Julie also mentioned that this was the first card she had made in a long time and thanked me for the inspiration - and you know inspiring someone to scrap makes me smile!  I hope this blog inspires someone else to send a personal note to somebody they care about.  It means so much and we just don't do it often enough anymore.

Thank you so much, Julie.  To say that you made my day is an understatement.  You made my month!   

Summer Lovin'

Last weekend, Jay and I spent a jam-packed couple of days celebrating the love of some pretty special people in our lives.  The weekend started with Neil and Lindsay's wedding on Friday night.  Neil is a co-worker of mine    and his wedding has been a much anticipated event for many months (as you can see by the joyous looks on my co-workers faces in this photo).  The wedding was beautiful and full of personal touches from the bride and groom.  Their first dance was to "I'm Your's" by Jason Mraz.  I love that song (I'm listening to it now) and they had fun dancing to it....such a fun couple.   All of us had a great time and hardly left the dance floor....especially Michelle's husband Cary.  Let's just say when Cary is around splits are involved, it's not something to miss!

Congratulations Neil and Lindsay!

 

Saturday was when the real craziness began.  I started my day at Emily and Andy's wedding shower in Huntington Woods.  Andy is a longtime friend of ours and Jay is a groomsmen in the wedding, taking place in August.  Emily's shower was planned to be a garden party outside, but storms quickly moved the shower inside.  Boo.  I was disappointed for her, but she was a great sport and the event was lovely anyway.

Following the shower, I went home to collect my husband and we headed to New Boston for Joey and Chicki's Michigan wedding reception.  Jay and I attended their wedding in Savannah, GA on March 1.  Their wedding in Savannah was a breathtaking traditional Indian ceremony.  Today they were celebrating with friends and family that couldn't attend the Savannah event.  They were certainly blessed with two beautiful days to celebrate their union.  I love this picture of my sister and me...she looks so pretty in her summery yellow top. 

Our last stop of the day was to Howell for Brian and Paula's 10th anniversary bash.  Jay and Brian have known each other most of their lives, playing hockey together since they were 10 years old.....all the way to Western Michigan University.  As a matter of fact, Brian and Paula met at a party Jay had at his house at Western.  Paula surprised Brian with a LIVE band, Kung Fu Diesel, that performed on their back deck!  The picture above is a little dark, but you can see the band in the background.  It was incredible.  The band was great and Paula and I could not be pulled off the "dance floor."  I'm sure it had nothing to do with the evening's popular drink of choice, which we both (and many others) enjoyed very much.  The drink was "Sip and Get Naked" (I will remain mum on whether this worked for anyone at the party.....what happens at Paula and Brian's, stays at Paula and Brian's - ha!) and is made of equal parts Grey Goose, beer, water and frozen lemonade.  Yummy!

Without a doubt, I had more fun at this party then I've had in a long time.  From the LIVE band, to Brian's guided twilight pontoon rides, to dancing till dawn, it was GREAT.  Most of all, it was great to hang out with two wonderful friends, celebrating 10 years of happiness together.  Congratulations Paula and Brian!  You're a beautiful couple.

Ok, so this is officially the longest blog I've ever written.  It breaks all blog rules.  But it was that kind of weekend - so I couldn't skip a thing.       

American Gothic

This layout makes me laugh and seemed appropriate to post this weekend.  The bottom photo was taken at my friends wedding.  The photographer was taking creative and amusing candids of guests and asked us to make this serious pose.  When we got the photo back we laughed hysterically, thinking we looked like the couple in the classic American Gothic painting.  So, having a little fun with Photoshop....we were the American Gothic couple.